Ecuador News

Ecuador invites U.S. Agency for International Development to return to the country

Ecuador has agreed to the return of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has been kicked out of the country four years ago under leftist former President Rafael Correa.

Ecuador Foreign Minister Jose Valencia

Foreign Minister José Valencia and USAID Ambassador Mark Green signed the memorandum of agreement on Wednesday setting terms of the deal. The U.S. agency initially is offering Ecuador $30 million to help it cope with migrants fleeing Venezuela’s political and economic crisis.

Valencia said the “special connection” with the U.S. is an expression of President Lenin Moreno’s policies.

Moreno has aligned the South American nation more closely with the U.S. since taking office in 2017. He’s been feuding with Correa, who had prickly relations with the U.S. and expelled USAID in 2014.

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